Zavoj Lake, Artificial reservoir in southeastern Serbia, formed through a landslide-created dam on the Visočica River near Pirot.
This elongated body of water stretches approximately 140 kilometers along its shoreline, reaching depths up to 80 meters while maintaining a total capacity of 170 million cubic meters.
Created in 1963 when a massive landslide formed a natural dam 50 meters high, which Serbian army engineers later reinforced to prevent catastrophic flooding downstream toward Niš.
Local communities in nearby villages like Novi Zavoj and Pakleštica maintain traditional Serbian customs while adapting their agricultural practices around the reservoir's water management needs.
Visitors can access the lake via regional roads from Pirot, located 17 kilometers away, with the area offering fishing opportunities and recreational activities at 612 meters elevation.
The reservoir sits atop a significant paleontological site containing Upper Triassic fossils dating back 230 million years, including ancient marine reptiles and mollusk shells.
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